The Mirror (The Twilight Zone)




6th episode of the third season of The Twilight Zone

































"The Mirror"
The Twilight Zone episode
Episode no.
Season 3
Episode 6
Directed by Don Medford
Written by Rod Serling
Featured music Stock
Production code 4819
Original air date October 20, 1961
Guest appearance(s)



  • Peter Falk

  • Will Kuluva

  • Antony Carbone

  • Arthur Batanides

  • Rodolfo Hoyos Jr.

  • Vladimir Sokoloff



Episode chronology




← Previous
"A Game of Pool"

Next →
"The Grave"


The Twilight Zone (1959 TV series) (season 3)
List of The Twilight Zone episodes

"The Mirror" is episode 71 of the American television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It originally aired on October 20, 1961 on CBS.




Contents






  • 1 Opening narration


  • 2 Plot


  • 3 Closing narration


  • 4 Cast


  • 5 References


  • 6 External links





Opening narration








Plot


In a Central American dictatorship, Ramos Clemente (modelled after Fidel Castro), and his four lifelong confidants, D'Alessandro, Garcia, Tabal, and Cristo, stage a successful revolution against the regime of General De Cruz. Clemente faces down De Cruz and revels in his victory, but the deposed general says that Clemente will soon learn the consequences of ruling by force. De Cruz also tells Clemente that his ornate mirror has the ability to reveal enemies in its reflection. Clemente initially dismisses De Cruz.


When Clemente begins using the same repressive tactics used by De Cruz, a rift develops between him and his four friends, now the heads of the government. A particular point of contention is Clemente's order for mass executions of prisoners he has declared to be enemies of the state. When Clemente looks into the mirror, he sees visions implying that all four of his confidantes are plotting to assassinate him—D'Alessandro with the rifle, Garcia and Tabal with knives, and Cristo with a poisoned glass of wine. Clemente believes that the mirror reflects their true thoughts, and accuses them of their supposed future crimes. In spite of their denials, he takes steps to eliminate them; he kills two himself, and orders the other two killed by his men.


Finally, Clemente is approached by a priest named Father Tomas who asks him to end the executions, which have been going on for a week. Clemente refuses, saying that as long as he has enemies the executions will continue. Eventually, Clemente seeks counsel from the priest, but finds no comfort in the priest's response that all tyrants have but one real enemy, whom they never recognize until it is too late. Clemente takes one last, long look in the mirror...and sees only himself. He picks up his pistol and throws it at the mirror, smashing the glass. The priest, who is standing just outside the office, hears the glass break. As he listens at the door he hears a gunshot. He rushes into Clemente's office and finds Clemente's lifeless body sprawled on the floor, a gun in his hand. "The last assassin," he says, "and they never learn...they never seem to learn."



Closing narration








Cast




  • Peter Falk as Ramos Clemente


  • Will Kuluva as De Cruz


  • Richard Karlan as D'Alessandro


  • Vladimir Sokoloff as Father Tomas


  • Antony Carbone as Cristo


  • Rodolfo Hoyos, Jr. (credited as Rodolfo Hoyos) as Garcia


  • Arthur Batanides as Tabal



References



  • DeVoe, Bill. (2008). Trivia from The Twilight Zone. Albany, GA: Bear Manor Media. .mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
    ISBN 978-1-59393-136-0

  • Grams, Martin. (2008). The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic. Churchville, MD: OTR Publishing.
    ISBN 978-0-9703310-9-0



External links




  • "The Mirror" on IMDb


  • "The Mirror" at TV.com









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